Where Physiotherapy Ends and Clinical Movement Begins
The line between physiotherapy and Pilates can sometimes feel blurry, particularly now that many physiotherapists go on to train in Pilates and use the same apparatus I do. It’s a question I’m asked often, and it’s important to me that my clients clearly understand where I fit in their journey.
I work as a movement educator with advanced clinical training, supporting people after diagnosis or medical treatment, and guiding them through the process of rebuilding strength, mobility and confidence in their bodies. I don’t diagnose, and I don’t prescribe medical treatment and that clarity matters.
The role of physiotherapy
Physiotherapists play a vital and essential role, particularly in the acute and early stages of injury or post-operative recovery. They are trained to assess, diagnose and treat physical conditions, manage pain, and support early healing.
If you’ve just had surgery, experienced trauma, or are dealing with pain without a clear diagnosis, a physiotherapist is absolutely the right place to start. That early phase of care belongs firmly within the medical system, and it’s a role I respect deeply.
Where my work begins
My work begins after diagnosis, once the immediate medical phase has passed and you’ve been cleared to move forward.
This is often the stage where many people feel a little lost.
You may have had excellent physiotherapy. You may have been given a sheet of exercises to do at home. But once the appointments end, you’re often left wondering how to rebuild properly, not just to cope, but to feel strong, capable and confident again.
This is where clinical movement comes in.
A personal reason I trained clinically
One of the reasons I chose to train in clinical movement was deeply personal. My partner lives with psoriatic arthritis, experiences chronic pain, and had to undergo a full hip replacement at a relatively young age.
The surgery itself went extremely well, and the NHS physiotherapy did exactly what it needed to do. It got him safely out of hospital and moving again. But after that initial phase, he was largely left to manage on his own.
He was given exercises, but not the longer-term guidance or progression needed to restore full strength, range of motion and confidence in his movement, particularly in the context of an inflammatory condition and ongoing pain.
I remember thinking there must be so many people in this position. People who have done everything right, but still don’t feel fully supported in returning to life well in their bodies.
That experience shaped the work I do today.
What I focus on in my sessions
Using Pilates apparatus, clinical knowledge and a whole-person approach, I work with clients to:
Restore strength in a progressive, safe way
Improve range of motion and joint confidence
Increase flexibility without sacrificing stability
Support real-life, functional movement
Help people feel stronger than before, not just “recovered”
I don’t offer manual therapy, and I don’t diagnose conditions. Instead, I use evidence-informed movement, Pilates principles and clinical reasoning to support long-term recovery and wellbeing.
I also understand tissue healing timelines, which means I’m very clear about when it’s appropriate for someone to work with me and when it isn’t. You won’t find me working with someone immediately post-operation. That early stage belongs with medical professionals. I step in later, when the focus shifts from healing to rebuilding.
My work is informed by current movement science and established exercise guidelines, including ACSM principles, and I stay continually updated with the latest research and best practice.
Overlap without confusion
There is overlap between physiotherapy and clinical Pilates and that overlap can be a strength. The difference isn’t about quality of care, but about scope and timing.
Physiotherapy initiates recovery.
My work continues it.
It’s important to me that my clients understand where I fit within their wider care team, as a movement educator and candidate clinical movement practitioner, working alongside, not in place of, medical professionals.
The bigger picture
Many of the people I work with come to me not because something is “wrong”, but because they want to live well in their bodies, after surgery, through menopause, alongside arthritis, or simply as life evolves.
My role is to meet them there.
Not at the start of injury, but at the point where healing becomes living.
And for many people, that’s where the real work begins.
A final note
I won’t be the right teacher for everyone and that’s absolutely fine. But I may be the right one for you.
If any of my writing resonates, I invite you to book a call with me so we can talk through your individual needs. The relationship matters. And if the chemistry isn’t right, I’ll always be honest and happy to help point you in the right direction.
